Thai Airways International vs Singapore Airlines

Overview

Thai Airways International is the flag carrier of Thailand. According to Wikipedia, it was founded in 1960 as a joint venture with Scandinavian Airlines and began operating in its current form in 1988 after merging with Thai Airways Company. The Ministry of Finance holds 42.94% of the shares, and the airline is listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Its headquarters are in Chatuchak, Bangkok. Thai is a founding member of Star Alliance. Its regional subsidiary Thai Smile was merged back into the mainline carrier from 2023.

Network and hubs

The main hub is Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. As of January 2026 the airline served 51 international and 9 domestic destinations in 29 countries, with a network focused on Europe, Asia and Oceania. A return to North America is under discussion, according to Aviation A2Z (July 2026).

Fleet

Wikipedia lists a fleet of 80 aircraft as of January 2026, with a large order book (see the fleet page). In July 2026 Aviation A2Z reported a Boeing 787 fleet of 45 aircraft, including those on order. TTG Asia (25 September 2026) reports that long-haul flying will rely on the Airbus A350-900, Boeing 777-300ER and Boeing 787 family as older wide-bodies retire. It also reports that the Airbus A321neo fleet will grow from nine to 15 by the end of 2026, with a target of 32. The fleet is to be streamlined to four types, with a cabin overhaul planned for 2027.

On board

• Cabins: Royal Silk (business), Premium Economy and Economy, depending on aircraft. Royal First is listed in some baggage tables.
• Meals: Thai and international dishes, which vary by route and month. Pre-selection is available up to 72 hours before departure.
• Seat pitch, entertainment and Wi-Fi: not confirmed in the sources reviewed, and these vary by aircraft. Check the airline before booking.

Good to know

• Cabin baggage: Thai's official page allows one hand-carry bag of up to 7 kg.
• Checked baggage: third-party sources such as HappyFares report a piece-based allowance for tickets issued from 25 November 2025 for travel from 2 March 2026. Economy Saver and Standard include 1 x 23 kg, and Royal Silk includes 2 x 32 kg. Older tickets keep the weight-based allowance. Check the official site for your fare.
• Punctuality: Cirium reported 79.29% on-time arrivals for June 2025.
• Lounges: Royal Orchid and Royal Silk lounges. The loyalty programme is Royal Orchid Plus.

Overview

Singapore Airlines is the flag carrier of Singapore. According to Wikipedia, its origins lie in Malayan Airways, founded on 1 May 1947, and it began operating under its current name on 1 October 1972. Temasek Holdings owns 53% of the company. The headquarters are at Airline House, Changi. The airline has belonged to Star Alliance since April 2000. Its group includes the low-cost carrier Scoot, SIA Engineering Company and Singapore Airlines Cargo, and it holds 25.1% of Air India Limited.

Network and hubs

The sole hub is Changi Airport. The airline served 87 destinations as of 2026 (Wikipedia). It operates long-haul services using Airbus A350-900ULR aircraft, and regional routes with Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, which were added after the merger with SilkAir.

Fleet

As of March 2026, Wikipedia's fleet page lists 164 registered aircraft: 152 passenger aircraft and 12 freighters. The passenger fleet includes:

• Airbus A350-900: 58, plus 7 A350-900ULR
• Airbus A380-800: 13
• Boeing 777-300ER: 25
• Boeing 787-10: 28
• Boeing 737 MAX 8: 21

The airline has 31 Boeing 777-9 aircraft on order, with deliveries expected to begin in 2027. These are due to replace older A380s and 777-300ERs. Three more 787-10s are also on order.

On board

Cabin layouts vary by aircraft. The A380-800 has First (Suites), Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins. The 777-300ER has Premium Economy, Business and Economy cabins, and some aircraft also carry a small First cabin. The 787-10 and 737 MAX 8 have Business and Economy only, according to the same fleet table. Seat pitch, meal and entertainment details were not verified for this profile; check the official website.

Good to know

• Loyalty programme: KrisFlyer, with the PPS Club for top-tier members.
• Baggage allowances and change fees depend on fare and route. Check the airline's website before booking.
• Scoot, the group's low-cost carrier, is a separate airline with different fares and baggage rules.